FACTOID: Piper's major contribution to the military in World War 2 was not, as often assumed, the renowned Cub liaison and trainer, but steel radar masts.

AE SEE HE.Aerostar SEE PA-60.Apache, Aztec SEE PA-23.Arapaho SEE PA-40.Archer, Arrow SEE PA-28.C-83 - 3p J-3, -4, and -5 impressed by USAAF as communications aircraft. First designated UC-83, then as L-4 in 1943.

L-4, L-59, O-59 Grasshopper - USAAF liaison and ambulance. 2pChwM, same general data as J-3, -4, and -5. Original O-59 designation changed to L-4 in 1942. POP total: 5,673. USN version was NE. One had the distinction of the final WW2 aerial victory in Europe, as the war there was ending, when a rather slow and ungainly dogfightmore of an aerial balletbetween an L-4 and a German Fieseler Fi.156 observation plane took place. USAF Lts Duane Francis and Bill Martin fired their .45 pistols at the German, convincing him to land and surrender.

Piper L-4C Restoration [N50784]L-4C 1942 = Impressed J-3C. POP: 10, plus 2 redesignated from UC-83A [42-79557/79558]. Impressed L-4C, -4D, -4E, -4F and -4G are scattered throughout the block [43-2909/3008] and it would be too space and time intensive to individually sort those registrations. Total impressment: 111, plus 5 more lost in the records somewhere.

Piper YL-14 [NX33534] (Curtiss Aldrich coll)Piper YL-14 [NX33534] (W K Giles via Dan Ford & Jos Heyman)L-14, YL-14 1945 (ATC 760) = 3pChwM; 125hp Lycoming O-290-3; span: 35'10" length: 23'5" load: 800# v: 115/100/20-38 range: 300; ff: 2/29/45. Modified L-4 with full greenhouse as liaison plane. POP: 1 prototype as YL-14 [NX41552], and 8 L-14 from a USAF order of 850 [45-55525/55574]; the rest were cancelled at war's end. The USAF 8 were surplused as civil [N154YL (or N14YL?)=N414YL, N1057N, NX33534, N33548, N33551, N33533, N41552, N67635]. A ninth was partially constructed [45-55531], surplused as [NC41594], then went to Cuba [CUP18=CUN18] and to Spain, where it was restored 1996-2003 [ECAAP].It might have been somewhat based on the J-5 but was really a different plane. It had flaps (first Piper to use them) and leading-edge slots. Two pilots in front, dual controls, and an observer's seat in the rear that swiveled for viewing out the back or for writing at a built-in desk. Power off and flaps up, it stalled at 38 mph but with flaps down and power, it stalled at 20! ( Russ Walker 2/18/04)L-18 - Military version of PA-11 and -18; 90hp continental C-90; span: 35'3" length: 22'5" load: 700# v: 110 ceiling: 13,500'.

L-18A - Projected development of L-4J for Mutual Security program, but none was built.

L-18B 1949 = Data similar to PA-11. POP: 105 to Turkey.

L-18C 1949 = Data similar to PA-18. POP: 838, of which 108 were exported.

PA-19 c.1952 = PA-18 to Army as L-18C. POP: 1.Piper PA-20PA-20 Pacer 1950 (TC 1A4) = PA-16 with 125hp Lycoming O-235 or O-290-D; span: 29'3" length: 20'5" load: 825# v: 125/112/50. Flaps, control wheel and other improvements. $3,298; POP: 1,119. Original Clipper designation was changed because of objections from PanAm Airlines, who claimed prior rights to the name. Transcontinental, non-stop lightplane record of 23h:4m:31s in May 1951 (p: Max Conrad).
PA-21 1949 - Factory designation applied to a purchased Baumann B-250 Brigadier [NX/N30025] c/n 1 to be used for evaluation. Piper acquired rights with a stipulation agreeing not to manufacture the design, or any variant of it, with pusher enginesBaumann retained those rights. Wings were redesigned for tractor engines in late 1949, but the project was cancelled when completion was judged as financially impractical. The plane went to a local school instead.Piper PA-22-150 [N7634D] (Mark Coffman)PA-22 Caribbean, Colt, Tri-Pacer 1951 (TC 1A6) = PA-20 with 125hp Lycoming O-290-D; span: 29'4" length: 20'3" load: 975# v: 135/125/48. Also with 135hp O-290-D2 and 150hp O-320.

PA-23 Apache, Aztec (TC1A10) - Although the idea for Apache originated in early 1951, it wasn't until Piper's acquisition of the Twin Stinson [N1953A] (qv below) that work began on a prototype. The Stinson's fabric covering was replaced by metal and there was a major redesign from the cabin aft, including a single tail. Power was upgraded to two 150hp Lycoming 0-320-A, and prototype [N23P] c/n 23-1 took wing on 7/29/53. There followed a second prototype [N1000P] c/n 23-2, and issuance of a TC on 1/29/54. Became the 6p Aztec series in 1959.

Piper PA-32-260 [N300JA] (Eric Paslick)-260 6B 1968 = 260hp Lycoming O-540-E; load: 1694# v: 166/158/63 range: 950 ceiling: 14,500'. $21,900; POP: 1,172.-260 Tri-motor? = Yes, the PA-32 Tri-motor sat next to one of the Piper hangars at Vero Beach FL. I used to see it there when I was ferrying new airplanes in the early '70s. A Cherokee 6-260 with, I believe, Lycoming O-360s on the wings, it was explained to me as the proof-of-concept for the PA-34 Seneca. ( Bob Bailey 12/13/02)